The Walking Dead: Top 100 Moments

49. Saying Goodbye to Eric

Episode 803 “Monsters”

Original Airdate: 11/5/2017

Submitted By: Sarabeth Pollock

Early on in All Out War, Rick’s people had the Saviors on the run and it looked like they were winning the war handily. However, the Saviors rallied at one of the outposts and managed to start firing back, taking out some of Rick’s people.

Aaron saw Eric get shot and he stopped what he was doing to tend to him. He took Eric to a tree and looked him over. There was an exit wound, which was a good thing, and Aaron was confident that his beloved would survive.

However, at the end of the episode after the fight was over, Aaron returned to the tree to discover that Eric was gone. There were no signs of a struggle. He was simply gone. In the distance, Aaron could make out Eric’s blond hair as the new Walker walked off into the sunet.

Rather than kill him, Aaron made the decision to let him go, watching him as he moved with the herd toward their next target.

While losing people is part of the show, Aaron’s decision to not kill Walker Eric is a big deviation from what we’ve seen. In his mind, he was saying goodbye to Eric without having to do the deed, so a little part of him is still alive out there somewhere.